Republic of Congo Timeline -- Part 2: From Membership of La Communauté (1946) to President Denis Sassou-Nguesso (14 August 1979)

A Chronology of Key Events in Republic of Congo

French overseas territorial (Territoires d'Outre-mer) assemblies are created for each of France's African colonies as part of the French Community (La Communauté). Each assembly has two colleges -- one for French residents and selected, educated members of the African elite and the second for the rest of the African population. Territories have elected representation in the French parliament.

The loi cadre is passed by the French National Assembly. It provides for universal adult suffrage for all African subjects in French colonies.

November 1958

With further reforms to La Communauté (The French Community) Congo becomes an autonomous state with internal self-government.

Abbe Fulbert Youlou, leader of the Union Démocratique pour la Défense des Intérêts Africains (UDDIA, Democratic Union for the Defense of African Interests) is appointed Prime Minister. Territiorial assemblies are to be elected by universal suffrage under the loi cadre.

1959

General Charles de Gaulle agrees that France's African territories may negotiate their independence within the French Community.

1959

The former member states of Afrique Équatoriale Française (AEF, French Equatorial Africa) form the Union des Républiques Central African (URCA, Union of Central African Republics).

15 August 1960

Independence from France as Republic of Congo.

Fulbert Youlou becomes the first president of the Republic of Congo for the Union Démocratique pour la Défense des Intérêts Africains (UDDIA, Democratic Union for the Defense of African Interests)

March 1961

A new constitution is introduced giving significant power to the presidency.

15 Aug 1963

President Fulbert Youlou is forced to resign, David Moussaka and Félix Mouzabakani take control for the military following labor unrest and rising ethnic tensions between northern and southern groups.

16 August 1963

Alphonse Massemba-Débat takes control as the Chairman of the National Council of the Revolution, supposedly on a transitional and provisional basis.

19 December 1963

Alphonse Massemba-Débat becomes president of the Republic of Congo for the Mouvement National de la Révolution (MNR, National Revolutionary Movement) after the approval of a new constitution and presidential election.

24 December 1963

Pascal Lissouba becomes Prime Minister for the Mouvement National de la Révolution (MNR, National Revolutionary Movement).

July 1964

Alphonse Massemba-Débat declares the Mouvement National de la Révolution (MNR, National Revolutionary Movement) to be the sole political party -- Republic of Congo is now a One-Party State.

6 May 1966

Ambroise Noumazalaye becomes Prime Minister for the Mouvement National de la Révolution (MNR, National Revolutionary Movement).

1968

One-party, Marzist-Leninist, state declared.

4 August 1968

Alfred Raoul becomes Prime Minister for the military after a coup d'état removes President Alphonse Massemba-Débat from power.

4 September 1968

Captain Marien Ngouabi takes control as the Chairman of the National Council of the Revolution following the coup d'état.

5 September 1968

Alfred Raoul takes over as Acting Head of State for the military

1 January 1969

Captain Marien Ngouabi replaces Alfred Raoul as Acting Head of State for the military.

Marien Ngouabi becomes President of the Republic of Congo for the Parti Congolais du Travail (PCT, Congolese Workers' Party).

1970

Republic of Congo declared a Marxist state, with the Parti Congolais du Travail (PCT, Congolese Workers' Party) the sole legal political party, and renamed the country the People's Republic of Congo.

23 March 1970

President Marien Ngouabi disbands the national gendarmerie and replaces it with a people's militia under the control of the government (after 30 members of the gendarmerie are accused of conspiracy to depose Ngouabi).

June 1973

New constitution approved by national referendum. A People's National Assembly is created, along with regional councils, all elected from the Parti Congolais du Travail (PCT, Congolese Workers' Party).

President Marien Ngouabi re-elected as Parti Congolais du Travail (PCT, Congolese Workers' Party) Chairman, and thus as president of the People's Republic of Congo.

18 December 1975

President Marien Ngouabi dissolves the government and the Political Bureau of the Parti Congolais du Travail (PCT, Congolese Workers' Party). A new, five-member Special Revolutionary General Staff is installed to help him govern.

Trade Union officials are arrested. They are charged with inciting a general strike.

18 March 1977

President Marien Ngouabi is assassinated by supporters of Alphonse Massemba-Débat. In the power vacuum that is created, the Parti Congolais du Travail (PCT, Congolese Workers' Party) Military Committee is established to govern the country. The committee consists of Colonel Jacques-Joachim Yhombi-Opango, Major Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Major Louis-Sylvain Goma, Major Jean-Michel Ebaka, Major Raymond-Damas Ngollo, Major Martin M'Bia, Major Pascal Bima, Captain François-Xavier Katali, Captain Florent Tsiba, Captain Nicolas Ockongo, and Lieutenant Pierre Anga.

23 March 1977

Cardinal Émile Biayenda, archbishop of Brazzaville, is assassinated.

25 March 1977

Alphonse Massemba-Débat is executed for treason, after a military tribunal is held into the assassination of President Marien Ngouabi.

3 April 1977

Jacques-Joachim Yhombi-Opango, head of the country's armed forces, becomes Head of State for the PCT Military Government.

1978

Left-wing, Marxist-Leninist factions in the Parti Congolais du Travail (PCT, Congolese Workers' Party) criticize Jacques-Joachim Yhombi-Opango for opening the door to political relations with France and the West.

August 1978

Former ministers are implicated in an attempted coup d'état, 10 people are arrested.

5 February 1979

The PCT Military Government is abolished and Yhombi-Opango resigns. Jean-Pierre Thystère Tchicaya becomes Chairman of the interim Presidium of PCT Central Committee

Elections for the People's National Assembly and regional councils are held. Candidates are selected from members of the Parti Congolais du Travail (PCT, Congolese Workers' Party), with a majority supporting Colonel Denis Sassou-Nguesso.

14 August 1979

Denis Sassou-Nguesso becomes President of the People's Republic of Congo for the Parti Congolais du Travail (PCT, Congolese Workers' Party).